Railway or tramway rail joint



. HELLERMANN 1,838,064

Dec. 22, l1931'.

RAILwY 0R TRAMWAY RAIL JOINT ,/Filed Aug. 1o 1929 nvenom Patented Dec. 22, 1931 Unirse, .STATES AUGUST HELLERMANN, or DUSSELDORF-OBERKASSEL, GERMANY, AssIGNon ro THE PATENT oFFrcE FIRM GESELLSCHAFT FUR WIRTSCHAETLECHEENn` BAHNOBERBAU M. B. H., OF FREI- BURG, GERMANY RAILWAY on TRAMWAY RAIIL JOINT Application led August 1'0, 1929, Serial No'. 384,880, yand rin Germany April 4, 1927.

My invention relates to ,railwayV or'tram- Way rail joints in Which the abutting ends of the rails are connected by means of sh plates Welded to the rails, and has for an ob- .i ject to provide an improved" construction such that ruptureofthe Weld is avoided and liability to injury tothe railsby they Wheel load in the neighbourhood ofthe joint isv obviated. Y f

In previously known rail joints of this kind considerable internal strains areset up in the Welded. seams in consequence ofthe contraction on cooling,l as a result of which and ofthe stresses occasioned on the passage of vehicles` over the rails the Weld is liable to give Way prematurely.

It has been ascertained as the' result of eX- perimental research that the shrinkage of the Welddimini'shes the rail height by about 1.5 millimetres if no resistance is offered by the rail web. This reduction in heightvis equivalent to an expansion strain of about 5%. Besides these internal strains the Weld is subject to other stresses' due to the altered static condition of the rails in the vicinity of the joint. They fish plate connection which functions as a rigid connection in consequence of the Welding opposes the depression curve or deflection Wave which accompanies the travel of the Wheel over the rail. lhere'as away lfrom the joint the rail is loaded after the fashion of a beam freely supported at both endsf shortly in front of the lishvplate connectionth-ere is an extra load which corresponds to theloading of a'beam at one side The compression stresses which are set up in the rail heads in consequence of the deflection are accordingly converted into ten# sile stresses in front and beyond the butt joint. The change of `load which takes place ina very brief time is a' cause of breakage of the rails or injury thereto shortlyin front of the fish-plate` joint.` Besides these static strains'.

of the seams and ofthe rails there are set up` powerfully stresses in the neigh-l bourhood of the joints due to the dy` namic' action bet-Ween the rail and the Wheel. Due' to the altered static relation there is in the neighbourhood of the butt joint a sudden alteration of the deflection fore `usual construction ofthe parts forming the joint there is a local accumulation of material so that the natural deflection Wave is opposed by the substantial inertia at this point. The stresses consequent on sudden" change of direction of the Wheelmay therefore prove destructive to the joint.

Starting from the recognition of these' phenomena, according to my present invention I make provision Wherebyrthe setting up of internal strains in the seams in conse* quence of contraction and also local accumulation of material and alteration in the static conditions in the* neighbourhood of the joint are obviated.

According to my invention, the parts in the neighbourhood of the joint that are to be v Welded together are made yielding by longi tudinal interruptions in theV direction of theforces set up onv contraction of the seams so that they can follow the movement of contraction Without occasioning internal strains.

ln the accompanying drawings Which il` lustrate the invention Figs. l and 2 show in side elevation and in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, respectively, a rail oint with short fish-plates of rectangular form Welded to the rail ends.

Figs. 3 and 4 shovv in side elevation and in section on the line lr-4 of Fig. 3, respectively,V a rail oint in Which the fish-plates yare made yieldingin vertical direction by the provi-l sion of Wedge-shaped notches which extend up tothe short middle portion.

Figs. 5 to 7 show a rail joint with bridge'- pieces arranged s-uperposed on the Welded fish-plates, Fig. 5'being aside elevation, Fig. 6 a section on the line 6-6, and Fig. 7 a sec` tion on the line 7-7 of'Fig. 5.

Figs. 8 and 9 shovv in` side elevation and in sect-ioni on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8 a modified construction incorporating half fish-plates in section on the line 11--11 of Fig. 10, respectively, a further modilication.

Referring` to Figs. l to 7 of the drawings, the webs a Zi of the abuttingrail ends a, i)

5 are formed with slots c, CZ in the neutral zone of the rails, so that the heads and bases of the rail ends can follow the contractile movement of the welded seams e, f which serve in known mannertoconnect the lisn-plates f/ with the rail ends. After the fish-plates g have been welded to the rail ends, the slots c, cZ are lilled with weld metal on bothsides of the {ish-plates. By the contraction of the weld metal filling the. slots there are set up in the seams c and f lcompression strains which oppose the tensile strains in the seams when a wheel travels over the joint. To prevent excessive rigidity which ywould unfavourably aliect the static condition Vof the rails in the neighbourhood of the joint, in the construction shown in Figs. l and 2 the ywelded fish-plates g and thus also the seams e and are short. This construction, however, is recommended only in the case -where the. forces acting in the longitudinal direction of the rails are small. In order to avoid exposing the seams e and f to transverse stresses on the passage of a wheel over the joint, the `fish-plates e are pressed by means of bolts z' against the bases and heads of the rail ends. Y

In the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the sh-plates g andthe seams and j are relatively long. In order to ensure that the lrails may yield suiliciently in the neighbourhood of the joint, the fishplates are each formed at their ends with wedge-shaped notches ZL' of such length that there is left only a relatively small middle portion g which is rigid in vertical direction. The notches Zt are so arranged that the slots c and Z in the webs can be iilled with weld metal up to the rigid middle portions of the fish-plates. As in the construction shown in Figs. l and 2 the lish-plates are held pressed against the heads and bases of the rail ends by means oi a bolt In the construction shown in Figs. 5 to l there are superposed on the fish-plates g bridge-pieces serving to transmitthe forces acting in the longitudinal direction of the rails. To provide a oint rigid in longitudinal direction between the bridge-pieces and the rail ends a and Z) there are provided two y sleeves Z litted to the 'ends of the bridgepieces and each having an eccentric central portion Z tted in a cylindrical enlargement of the slot c or CZ, so that by turning the sleeves about their axes variation in spacing of the aperturesin the bridge piece to be traversed by the sleeves may be accommodated. To ensure that the rigidity of the joint in vertical direction will not be materially increased by the provision of such bridgepieces thelatter are so held to the sleeves Z by means of bolts m penetrating the sleeves that, on deflection of the rail ends under the action of the wheel load the bridge-pieces can turn about the sleeves. The bridgepieces 7c are held pressed against the welded fish-plates at their centres by means of'a bolt n so that they take up the transverse stresses exercised on the fish-plates when a vehicle wheel passes over the joint. In order that this bolt may not preventthe rocking movement of the bridge-pieces around the sleeves Z playis allowedbetween the bolt on the one hand, and the rail web, the fish-plates and the bridge-pieces on the otherhand. Also, in

kthis construction, the slots 6- and ycZ are filled with weld'metal up to the fish-plates g. As the sleeves Z are mounted in cylindrical enlargements of the slots c and (Z, they are locked against movement after the closure of the slots `by weld metal in consequence of the contraction ofthe seams.

`In the construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9 each of the fish-plates welded to the rails consists of two sections o and p. The adjacent edges of these half fish-plates o and p are inclined in longitudinal direction and c0- operate with relatively adjustable wedges and r in such wise that the half fish-plates o and p can follow the contractile movements of the seams e and f on cooling.

The wedges are connected .by a horizontal bolt s on which is threaded a nut t by adjustment of which the spacing of the wedges g and r can be varied, so that the half lishplates 0 and p may be urged apart and the seams e and f subjected to compression. The wedges r are each provided with a longitudinal slot u penetrated by a bolt o serving to take up transverse stresses. Between the half fish-plates 0 and p andthe heads on the one hand and bases of the rail ends on the other hand are interposed strips e and f of yielding heat-resisting material, for example, mica, inorder to permit the half fish-plates to yield relatively to the heads and bases of the rail ends on contraction of the seams and to smooth out unevenness of the abutting surfaces. To prevent transverse shift of the wedges g and r relatively to the half fish-plates o and p, the wedges are provided with longitudinal grooves entered by the edges of lthe half Fish-plates.

In the construction shown in Figs. l0 and l1 the half lish-plates 0 and p are engaged by twoclamping jaws w and m, penetrating the rail webs. These 'jaws are guided in notches' fw', w in the rail webs so that they are movable in vertical direction only. -Near the ends of the jaws are grooves Q02 ail-engaged by the half fish-plates o, l79. To urge-apart the jaws w and there are driven between the same two wedges y, .e of whichv the wedge jz/ extends over the entire length of the jaws while the wedge z is of such length that in conjunction withy the thick end of the wedge y' it acts on half only of the jaws. The wedge y has upset portions y ya at both ends of which one portion. y hears against the face of the jaw while the other portiony y2' engages the thick end of the wedge e. The wedges .are thus held against working loose. The upset portions y and y2 are narrower than the wedge proper y so that they do not hinder the driving of the wedge. With this formation, and arrangement of the jaws the use of bolts etc. for spacing the half ish-plates and forv pressing the same against the rail ends may be dispensed with. Depending on the length of the fish-plates there may be provided several such clamping devices acting on the ends of the hal fish-plates, this last mentioned arrangement being particularly applicable to low rails in which the available space is insuiiicient to accom modate clamping means at the centre, that is, at the point where the fish-plates are subject to maximum stresses. f

In the construction shown in Figs. l() and l1 slottingl of the rail webs is unnecessary. It desired, however, the rail webs may be slotted in the constructions shown in Figs. 8 and 9- and in Figs. 10 and 1l. For example, it is possible by means of such slots to accommodate unevennessl at the joints.. Further, these slots may be filled with weld metal as in the other constructions described.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A rail joint, comprising, in combination, two abutting rail ends, fish-plates welded to the heads and bases of said rail ends, and longitudinal interruptions in one of said parts united by welding, said interruptions being disposed so thatV said parts united by welding are free to follow the movements produced by forces set up on. contraction of the welding seams, whereby the production of internal strains inthe parts welded is obviated.

2. A rail joint, comprising, in combination,

'5g two abutting rail ends, fish-plates welded to the heads and bases of' said rail ends, and slots in the webs of said rail ends, said slots being disposed in the neutral zone of said webs,

whereby the heads and bases of said rail ends are free to follow they movements produced by forces set up on contraction of the welding seams.

3. A rail joint, comprising, in combination,

, two abutting rail ends, a fish-plate welded to 60 the heads and bases of said rail ends, and

longitudinal interruptions in one of said parts united by welding, said interruptions being disposed so that said parts united by welding are free to follow the movements produced ,55 by forces set up on contraction of thewelding seams,fwhereby the production of internal strains in the parts welded is obviated, said interruptions being filled with weld metal after said lfish-plate has been welded to said rails.' f Y 4. A rail joint, comprising, in combination, two abutting rail ends, a tishfplate welded to the heads and bases of said rail ends, and slots in the neutral zone of the webs of said rail ends, whereby the heads and bases of said rail ends united by welding'are free to fcllow the movements produced by forces set up on contraction of weld seams, said slots being filled with weld metal at both sides of said fish-plate after the latter has been united to said rails.y

5. A rail joint, comprising, in combination, two abutting rail ends, a {ish-plate welded to the heads and bases of said rail ends, and longitudinal interruptions in one of said parts united by welding, said interruptions being disposed so that lsaid parts united by welding are free to follow the movements produced by forces set up on contraction of the seams, whereby the production of internal strains in the parts welded is obviated, said fish-plates being provided with preferably wedge-shaped notches extending from the ends of said {ish-.plate and of such length that said fish-plate is yielding in vertical direction save for a relativelysmall middle portion.

6. A rail oint, comprising, in combination, two abutting rail ends, and afish-plate weld ed to the heads and bases of said rail ends, said iish-plate being provided with preferably wedge-shaped notches extending from the ends of said iish-plateand of such length that said fish-plate is yielding in vertical direction save for a relatively small middle portion.

7. A rail joint, comprising, in combination, two abutting rail ends, a ishsplate welded to the heads and bases of said rail ends, and slots in the neutral zone of the webs of said' ends, whereby the heads and bases of said rail ends united by welding are free to follow the movements produced by forces set upon contraction of the weld seams, said fish-plate being provided with preferably wedge-shaped notches extending Jfrom the ends of said fishplate and of such length that said fish-plate `is yielding in vertical direction save for a relatively small middle portion, said slots being filled with weld metal at both sides of said sh-plate after the latter has been united to said rails.

8. A rail joint, comprisingin combination, two abutting rail ends, a {ish-plate welded to the heads and bases of said rail ends, longitudinal interruptions in one of said parts united by welding, said interruptions being disposed so that said parts united by Vwelding are free to follow the movements produced lil.l

ies

Lby forces set up on contraction of the welding i I seaman/hereby the production of internal strains in the parts welded is obviated,and a bridge-member arranged infront of said fish-plate and so connected with said rail Y ends that said bridge-member transmits the in the webs oi said rail ends, said slots being disposed in the neutral `zone of said webs, whereby the heads and bases of said rail ends are free to follow the movements produced by forces set up on contraction ot the welding seams, and a bridge-member arranged in front of said lish-plates rand so connected with said rail ends that said 'bridge-member transmits the forces acting in the longitudinal directions of said rails while relieving the seams.

l0. A rail Vjoint,comprising,` in combination, two abutting-rail ends, a fish-plate welded to the heads and bases ot said rail ends, longitudinal interruptions 'in one of said )arts united by welding', said interruptions being disposed so that said parts united by welding are tree to `follow the movements produced by forces set up on contraction ot' the welding seams, whereby the production ot internal strains in the parts welded is obviated, said interruptions being filled with weld metal after said iisli-plate has been welded to said rails, and a bridge-member arranged in frontof said iisli-plate and so connected with said rail ends that said bridge-member transmits the forces acting in the longitudinal directions of said rails while relieving the seams.

l1. A rail joint, comprising,in combination, two abutting rail ends, a {ish-plate welded to the heads and bases of said rail ends, slots in the neutral Zone of the webs of said rail ends, whereby the heads and bases of said rail ends united by welding are free to follow the movements produced by forces set up on contraction ot weld seams, said slots being filled with weld metal at both sides oi said lish-plate after the'latter has been united to saidrails, and a bridge-inember arranged in front of said fish-plate and so connected with said rail ends that said bridge-member transmits the forces acting in the longitudinal directions or said rails while relieving the seams.

` l2. A vrail joint, comprising, iii/,combination, two abutting rail ends, a A,ish-plate welded to the heads and bases of said rail ends, and longitudinal interruptions in one of said parts united by welding, said interruptions being `disposed so that said parts united by welding are ree to follow? the movements produced by forces set up oncontraction of the seams, whereby the production of internal strains in the parts welded is obviated, saidflish-plate being provided with preferably ,wedge-shaped; notches extending from the ends of said iish-plate and of such length that said sh-plate is .yielding in vertical d-irection save for-a relatively small middle portion, andaubridge-member arranged infront ot said fish-plate and so con# nected with said rail ends that said rbridge`v member transmits theforces acting in the longitudinal directions of said rails while relieving the seams. v -f i 13. A rail joint,y comprising, in combina-r tion, two abutting rail ends, a fish-platewelded to the heads and bases. of said rail ends, said lish-plate `being providedxwith preferably wedge-shaped notches eXtending from the ends of said V{ish-plate and of such length that. said lishplate is yielding in vertical di` rection` save for a relatively small'middle portion, Iand a bridge-member arranged `in 'front of' said iisli-plate and so connected with said rail ends that said bridge-member transmits the forces acting in 'the longitudinal directions of said rails .while relieving the seams.

14. A rail joint, comprising, f in combina-v tion, two abutting rail ends, fish-plates welded to the heads and bases of said rail ends, longitudinal, interruptions in one of' said parts united by welding, said interruptions being disposed so that said parts united by welding are free to follow the movements produced by forces set up on'contraction of the welding seams, whereby.thef'production otinternal strains'. in the parts welded is obviated, a bridgepiece arranged in front of each fish-plate, and a pivotal connection be tween each end ofsaid bridge-'piece and the adjoining rail web, whereby said bridge`- piece is adapted to simultaneously transmit forces acting in longitudinal directionof-said rails` and to rock invertical direction.

l5. A railjoint, comprising, in combinav tion,v two abutting railends, fish-plates Welded to the heads an-d'bases of said rail ends, slots in the webs of said rail ends,said slots being disposed in the neutral zone of saidr webs, whereby the heads and bases of said rail endsy are free to followA :tliefmnioveinents produced by forces. set up on contraction of the welding seams, a bridge-piecearranged in front of each fish-plate, and apivotal con; nection between each end ofsaid bridge-piece and the adjoining rail web, whereby said bridge-piece is adapted to simultaneously transmit forces acting in longitudinal direction of said rails and to rock in vertical Vdirection.

16. A rail joint, comprising, in 'combination, two abutting rail ends, a lish-plate welded to the heads and bases of said rail ends, slots in Athe neutralzone of the webs 4ofsaid rail ends, wherebyV theA headsand 4bases of.r

said rail ends united by welding are freeto.

follow the movements produced by forces set iso up on contraction of weld seams, said slots being filled with weld metal at both sides of said fish-plate after the latter has been united to said rails, a bridge-piece arranged in front of said iish-plate, and a pivotal connection between each end of said bridge-piece and the adjoining rail web, whereby said bridge-piece is adapted to simultaneously transmit forces acting in longitudinal direction of said rails and to rock in vertical direction.

17. A rail joint, comprising, in combination, two abutting rail ends, a fish-plate welded to the heads and bases of said rail ends, said iish-plate being provided with preferably wedge-shaped notches extending from the ends of said fish-plate and of such length that said fish-plate is yielding in vertical direction save for a relatively small middle portion, and a bridge-piece in front of said fish-plate, and a pivotal connection between each end of said bridge-piece and the adjoin# ing rail web, whereby said bridge-piece is adapted to simultaneously transmit forces acting in longitudinal direct-ion of said rails and to rock in vertical direetion.

18. A rail joint, comprising, in combination, two abutting rail ends, lislnplates welded to the heads and bases of said rail ends, slots in the webs of said rail ends, said slots being disposed in the neutral zone of said webs, whereby the heads and bases of said rail ends are free to follow the movements produced by forces set up on contraction of the welding seams, al bridge-piece arranged in front of each fish-plate, and a pivotal c oiinection between each end of said bridge-piece and the adjoining rail web, said pivotal connection comprising an adjustment member adapted to be fixed in its adjusted position by forces set up on contraction of the welding seams.

19. A rail joint, comprising, in combination, two abutting rail ends, a sh-plat-e welded to the heads and bases of said rail ends, slots in the neutral Zone of the webs of said rail ends, whereby the heads and bases of said rail ends united by welding are free to follow the movements produced by forces set up on contraction of weld seams, said slots being iilled with weld metal at both sides of said fish-plate after the latter has been united to said rails, a bridge-piece in front of said {ish-plate, and a pivotal connection between each end of said bridge-piece and the adj oining rail web, said pivotal connection comprising an adjustment member adapted to be {ixed in its adjusted position by forces set up on contraction ofthe welding seams.

20. A rail joint, comprising, in combination, two abutting rail ends, a lisli-plate welded to the heads and bases of said rail ends, said fish-plate being provided with preferably wedge-shaped notches extending from the ends of said fish-plate and of Such length that said ish-plate is yielding in vertical direction save for a relatively small middle portion, a bridge-piece arranged in front of each fish-plate, and a pivotal connection between each end of'said bridge-piece and -the adjoiningrail web, said pivotal connection comprising -anadjustment` member adapted to be fixed in `its adjusted position by forces set up on contraction of the welding seams. v v

21. A rail joint, comprising, in combination,vtwo abutting rail ends, fish-'plates weldedto the heads and bases of said rail ends, each fish-plate vcomprising superposed parts and means' for pressing said 'parts against heads and-bases ofthe respective rail'ends. 22. A rail joint, comprising, in combination two kabut-tingrail ends, fish-plates welded to the heads and bases of said railfeiids, eachy fish-plate comprising 4superposed parts and means forkpressing said parts against heads and'bases of the respective rail ends, and spacing members of a yielding and heatresisting character interposed between each rail head and rail base and the respective fish-plate parts pressed against said rail heads and rail bases by said pressing means.

23. A rail joint, comprising, in combination, two abutting rail ends, fish-plates welded to the heads and bases of said rail ends,

each fish-plate comprising superposed part-s and means for pressing said parts against heads and bases of the respective rail ends, said pressing means comprising wedge inembers and adjustable means for varying the wedge action of said wedge members, said wedge members and fish-plate parts engaging each other by means of a tongue and groove engagement.

24. A rail joint, comprising, in combination, two abutting rail ends, fish-plates welded to the heads and bases of said rail ends, each lish-plate comprising superposed part and means for pressing said parts against heads and bases of the respective rail ends, said pressing means comprising vertically adjustable clamping jaws and wedges for actuating said clamping jaws, the latter being guided in perforations of the rail webs in such wise that they act simultaneously on said fish-plate parts on both sides of the rail.

25. A rail joint, comprising, in combination, two abutting rail ends, fish-plates welded to the heads and bases of said rail ends, each {ish-plate comprising superposed parts and means for pressing said parts against heads and bases of the respective rail ends, said pressing means kcomprising vertically adjustable clamping jaws and wedges for actuating said clainping jaws, the latter being guided in perforations of the rail webs in such wise that they act simultaneously on said sh-plate parts on both sides of the rail, said actuating wedges consisting of a pair of wedges adapted to co-operate with each pair iis A of clamping jaws in such wise that the forces exercised on said fish-plate parts at each rail side can be adjusted independently.

- 26.'A rail joint, comprising, in combination, two abutting rail ends, a fish-plate welded to the heads and bases of said rail ends, longitudinal interruptions in one of said parts united by welding, said interruptions being disposed vso that said parts united Y by welding are free to follow the movements produced by forces set up on contraction of the welding seams, whereby the production of internal-strains in the parts welded is- 0bviated, and spacing members interposed be- A tween each rail yhead and .each .rail base and the respective ish-plate parts, said spacing members are of a yielding, and heat-resisting characterand dos not extend into the adjoining weld seams. f Y

v In testimony whereof I axed my signature. Y f AUGUST HELLERMANN. 

